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Melani Shaffmaster Named Preseason All-Big Ten
8/1/2024 1:00:00 PM | Volleyball
Minnesota was picked to finish fifth in the league
CHICAGO, Ill. -- University of Minnesota redshirt senior setter Melani Shaffmaster has been named to the 2024 Preseason All-Big Ten Team. The Gophers were voted to finish fifth by the conference's coaches, behind Nebraska, Wisconsin, Penn State and Purdue. The 'U' has finished third or better in eight of the last nine seasons, including its 2016 and 2018 Big Ten Championship seasons.
Redshirt senior setter Melani Shaffmaster earned her fourth career AVCA All-North Region honor in 2023. She averaged 8.78 assists, 0.97 kills on .376 hitting (both career-highs), 3.07 digs (career-high), 0.68 blocks and 0.29 aces (career-high) per set. She ranked second among Big Ten setters in kills per set and led all setters in digs and double doubles (19). The New Castle, Ind., native totaled 14 3+ block matches and led all Gophers with 10 matches having multiple aces. Shaffmaster was also named Second Team All-Big Ten for her third career all-league honor.
In her career, Shaffmaster made First Team All-Big Ten in 2022 and was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team in 2020-21. She ranks No. 8 all-time in assists at Minnesota (3,973) and is one of four players in Gophers history with 3,000 assists and 1,000 digs. She is a four-time Big Ten Setter of the Week and was named the 'Best Setter' at each of the last two Big Ten/Big 12 Challenges. Shaffmaster, a four-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, has been named Preseason All-Big Ten in each of the last two years.
The Gophers open the season on Sunday, Sept. 1 against Stanford in the inaugural College Volleyball Showcase at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wis.
2024 BIG TEN VOLLEYBALL PRESEASON POLL
1. Nebraska
2. Wisconsin
3. Penn State
4. Purdue
5. Minnesota
6. Oregon
7. USC
8. UCLA
9. Ohio State
10. Indiana
11. Illinois
12. Michigan State
13. Washington
14. Maryland
15. Michigan
16. Northwestern
17. Rutgers
18. Iowa
2024 BIG TEN VOLLEYBALL PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
Raina Terry, Gr., OH, Illinois
Camryn Haworth, Sr., S, Indiana
Melani Shaffmaster, RS-Sr., S, Minnesota
MERRITT BEASON, Sr., OPP, Nebraska
Taylor Landfair, Sr., OH, Nebraska
Harper Murray, So., OH, Nebraska
Bergen Reilly, So., S, Nebraska
LEXI RODRIGUEZ, Sr., L, Nebraska
Emily Londot, Fifth-Year, OH/OPP, Ohio State
Mimi Colyer, Jr., OH, Oregon
JESS MRUZIK, Gr., OH, Penn State
Chloe Chicoine, So., OH, Purdue
Eva Hudson, Jr., OH, Purdue
Anna Dodson, Gr., MB, UCLA
Mia Tuaniga, Sr., S, USC
Carter Booth, Jr., MB, Wisconsin
Sarah Franklin, Sr., OH, Wisconsin
Anna Smrek, Sr., MB/OPP, Wisconsin
Unanimous selection listed in ALL CAPS
Redshirt senior setter Melani Shaffmaster earned her fourth career AVCA All-North Region honor in 2023. She averaged 8.78 assists, 0.97 kills on .376 hitting (both career-highs), 3.07 digs (career-high), 0.68 blocks and 0.29 aces (career-high) per set. She ranked second among Big Ten setters in kills per set and led all setters in digs and double doubles (19). The New Castle, Ind., native totaled 14 3+ block matches and led all Gophers with 10 matches having multiple aces. Shaffmaster was also named Second Team All-Big Ten for her third career all-league honor.
In her career, Shaffmaster made First Team All-Big Ten in 2022 and was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team in 2020-21. She ranks No. 8 all-time in assists at Minnesota (3,973) and is one of four players in Gophers history with 3,000 assists and 1,000 digs. She is a four-time Big Ten Setter of the Week and was named the 'Best Setter' at each of the last two Big Ten/Big 12 Challenges. Shaffmaster, a four-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, has been named Preseason All-Big Ten in each of the last two years.
The Gophers open the season on Sunday, Sept. 1 against Stanford in the inaugural College Volleyball Showcase at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wis.
2024 BIG TEN VOLLEYBALL PRESEASON POLL
1. Nebraska
2. Wisconsin
3. Penn State
4. Purdue
5. Minnesota
6. Oregon
7. USC
8. UCLA
9. Ohio State
10. Indiana
11. Illinois
12. Michigan State
13. Washington
14. Maryland
15. Michigan
16. Northwestern
17. Rutgers
18. Iowa
2024 BIG TEN VOLLEYBALL PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
Raina Terry, Gr., OH, Illinois
Camryn Haworth, Sr., S, Indiana
Melani Shaffmaster, RS-Sr., S, Minnesota
MERRITT BEASON, Sr., OPP, Nebraska
Taylor Landfair, Sr., OH, Nebraska
Harper Murray, So., OH, Nebraska
Bergen Reilly, So., S, Nebraska
LEXI RODRIGUEZ, Sr., L, Nebraska
Emily Londot, Fifth-Year, OH/OPP, Ohio State
Mimi Colyer, Jr., OH, Oregon
JESS MRUZIK, Gr., OH, Penn State
Chloe Chicoine, So., OH, Purdue
Eva Hudson, Jr., OH, Purdue
Anna Dodson, Gr., MB, UCLA
Mia Tuaniga, Sr., S, USC
Carter Booth, Jr., MB, Wisconsin
Sarah Franklin, Sr., OH, Wisconsin
Anna Smrek, Sr., MB/OPP, Wisconsin
Unanimous selection listed in ALL CAPS
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